Missing MBR-helper error message

Recently getting a black screen and a boot halt with the message "Missing MBR - helper". Rebooting, 1 or more times, and the boot/start then succeeds. I have run the Automatic Repair Tool (Settings>More PC Settings>General>Advanced Startup>Advanced Options>Automatic Repair) to no avail.
Computer is an HP model P7-1187c. HDD is a 1tb Hitachi. Upgraded from Win 7 to Win 8.0. + 1 yr ago. (Kaspersky Internet Security & Malwarebytes consistently show no issues)

What next? Also, if I install a new HDD and clone it, will the clone contain the corrupted Master Boor Record? (I really don't want to do a clean install and loose sooo much time, software, and data!)